Deneme

Deneme is a Turkish noun with two main senses. In everyday language, it denotes a test, trial, or attempt—any act of trying something, or a trial run of a procedure. In literary use, deneme refers to a short nonfiction prose piece known as an essay. The term is used for both the individual piece and the genre it constitutes.

In Turkish literature, deneme is a flexible, reflective form. The deneme tradition emerged in the late Ottoman period and expanded in the early Turkish Republic, as writers adopted the essay to express personal observations, social critique, cultural analysis, and philosophical reflection. Denemes typically prioritize insight, nuance, and style over a fixed argument; authors may mix personal anecdote with analysis, criticism, or reportage. Topics range from literature and education to politics, everyday life, and national identity. The tone can be intimate, analytic, ironic, or meditative, and the form varies in length and structure.

Today, deneme remains a recognized genre in Turkish letters and is taught in schools and featured in literary magazines and collections. It is also used in journalism and media to describe essayistic columns or reflective prose. The term is commonly translated into English as “essay” or “essayistic prose,” depending on context.